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Giving Victims a Voice

11 January 2013

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the NSPCC have today, Friday 11 January, published their joint report into sexual allegations made against Jimmy Savile.

The report, 'Giving Victims a Voice', details the work of Operation Yewtree based on the accounts of the hundreds of victims who have come forward since Jimmy Savile was exposed as a sex offender in October 2012.

Police and the NSPCC have concluded that Savile was a prolific, predatory sex offender and the scale of his abuse is believed to be unprecedented in the UK.

It is believed Savile was able, through his celebrity status, to 'hide in plain sight' while abusing children and adults over six decades.

"It paints a stark picture emphasising the tragic consequences of when vulnerability and power collide," said Commander Peter Spindler, head of the MPS Specialist Crime Investigations.

"Savile's offending footprint was vast, predatory and opportunistic. He cannot face justice today but we hope this report gives some comfort to his hundreds of victims, they have been listened to and taken seriously. We must use the learning from these shocking events to prevent other children and vulnerable adults being abused in the future. They will get a voice."

Peter Watt, NSPCC Director of Child Protection Advice and Awareness, who co-authored the report with the Detective Superintendent David Gray, Operation Yewtree's Senior Investigating Officer, said that the scale of Savile's abuse "simply beggared belief."

"We know from the huge increase in calls to the NSPCC helpline about sexual abuse that the problem did not die with Savile," said Mr Watt. "Since the Savile scandal broke we have seen a surge in contacts about child abuse, both past and present, with many victims speaking out for the first time.

"Almost 800 additional children have been protected from abuse because of the publicity around this case prompted people to contact our helpline. We are optimistic that this signals a watershed moment for child protection in this country. We must seize the opportunity if we are to make a lasting change."

Victims of abuse who have not come forward but who wish to do so can contact the NSPCC Helpline, and children who need support can contact Childline. See related contacts and links on this webpage.

Key figures from the report:

Approximately 600 people came forward to provide information, 450 relating to Jimmy Savile.

From this, 214 criminal offences have been formally recorded across 28 police forces.

There are now recorded offences naming Savile as the suspect from 1955 to 2009 and the locations where victims report being abused include 14 medical establishments (hospitals, mental care establishments and a hospice).